Five enhancements to the Select Committee on a Safe, Clean and Inclusive Community were approved at last night’s (Monday) council meeting, but not without discussion.
The items include $400-thousand for current security costs and parkade updates, $50-grand in parkade hardware costs, $236-thousand for the City’s portion of two downtown pilot programs, adding seven two-member RCMP patrols for six extra hours a week costing $273,249, $189,051 to upgrade two Bylaw compliance officers to Enforcement Officers and adding an additional two more Bylaw Enforcement Officers, Lastly, $274,495 to add one year-round equipment operator and two laborers for nine months per year to clean up camps and debris.
The total bill for that enhancement is $1,422,795, or 1.29%, on top of the original 2.15% tax increase, bringing the total to 3.44% for this year.
The councilors opted to deal with each item individually, with most in favor of approving everything on the list to tackle the community issues head-on.
Councillor Kyle Samson was in favor as well but stressed the importance of finding the funds from within for the pilot projects and the equipment operator and voted against them.
“What I recommended was staff find those savings within the budget, I tried to find a compromise on what we are already doing, what we could potentially increase, and potentially not,” said Councillor Samson.
“You’re not going to make everyone happy, but what’s important and what I feel my job is, is to look at what is going to make the general population of Prince George satisfied, are we helping the people who need help, and are we making sure we are accountable to the taxpayers of our community as well?”
Samson was not alone in the sentiment, though the full enhancement package was passed 7-1.
“It was important for us to see how we can do the best possible jobs within the enhancements, and also balance the cost,” said Mayor Lyn Hall.
“This is a nation-wide issue and municipalities are being faced with this all the time.”
The city will have to submit a finalized budget by May 15.